Reviive: Contribution helps renew social club and leads to furniture restoration course

A contribution of furniture made by a Shropshire recycling and resale centre has enabled a Telford social club to re-establish its role as an important multiple-activity centre in the community.

Reviive, which has outlets in Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Trench in Telford donated £600 worth of chairs to Dawley Social Club following the construction of its new function room due to a partially collapsed roof. Opened again just prior to Christmas last year, the club is back to full capacity and has just recorded its most successful January ever, exceeding the income target by 150 percent. In addition, Telford College of Arts & Technology (TCAT) is planning to run a Reviive sponsored course on furniture restoration and recycling in the new room at the end of March.

Graham Bould, chairman of Dawley Social Club explains: “The building is a hub for the local area, and now that the room has been rebuilt and re upholstered we aim to utilise downtime during the day as well as using it for evening functions. TCAT is familiar with the venue as it already provides community education and pre-employment courses including hospitality and cleaning. So, with its expertise and Reviive’s support we hope that the pilot course in March will be successful enough for us to look at offering a more extensive qualification-based training programme at a later date. It is a very positive three-way partnership and one which I’m sure we can build on to continue providing services for local people.”

Simon Hilton, site coordinator, at Reviive Telford, said: “Reviive is very pleased to have supported Dawley Social Club with its furniture needs and in turn Graham and his team in achieving their ambitions to provide a facility and services to the local area. Some of the other furniture donated to the club required restoration, which was eagerly carried out by people on work placements recommended by the nearby job centre. From this we realised that there was potential demand for a taster course.” The free-to-attend furniture restoration and upcycling taster course at Dawley Social Club takes place on Monday 23 and Monday 30 March, 10am to 2pm. To enrol or for more information contact TCAT learner services on 01952 642237 or Cathy Addison on 07887 661847. All materials will be provided.